Listing snapshot
| Spotted | July 2023 |
| Asking price | $8,950 |
| Mileage | 41,000 (seller-stated) |
| Location | Vancouver, Washington |
| Listed on | Craigslist, private seller |
| Drivetrain | 302 (5.0-liter) V8, C6 automatic, four-wheel drive |
| Status | Ad expired. This page is our archive of the listing. |
We saw this 1981 Ford Bronco Ranger XLT in July 2023, listed by its owner in Vancouver, Washington, for $8,950. The ad has expired, and we keep the record here because a documented asking price helps anyone pricing a third-generation Bronco.
What this car was
A brown and tan two-tone Bronco in the top Ranger XLT trim, with a tan removable top, chrome bumpers and a tan interior with woodgrain door trim. The seller listed 41,000 miles, a clean title, the 302 V8 and a C6 automatic. They said it was special-ordered with every option in Freewheeling Package “B” and came with a Deluxe Marti Report, which documents how a Ford was built.
The seller also listed a long run of new parts:
- Aluminum four-core radiator, hoses, fan shroud, heater core and blower motor
- Brake booster, master cylinder, all brake lines, shoes, calipers and pads
- All wheel bearings and seals, upper and lower ball joints
- Both differentials rebuilt with 4.11 gears
- Borgeson steering shaft
- Removable top seals and hardware
- Side mirrors, front and rear bumpers
- Window, wiper and dimmer switches, door lock solenoid, temperature sender and battery
Was $8,950 a fair ask?
For a running, well-documented 1981 Bronco with that much fresh work, $8,950 looked low. Early Broncos from 1966 to 1977 get the big money, and the full-size trucks that followed are still catching up, which is why the ask was modest. The original-looking paint shows some fading on the hood, but the Marti Report and the parts list do a lot to support the price.
A little Bronco history
The full-size Bronco moved to the F-Series platform for 1978. The third generation, sold from 1980 to 1986, was shorter and lighter, and the 302 V8 was a common choice alongside the 300 inline-six. Ranger XLT was the top trim, and every version kept the removable rear top.
More cars from the archive
- Every Ford Bronco Ranger we’ve spotted, with asking prices
- 1980 Ford F100, another Ford
- 1986 Ford Mustang SVO, another Ford
- 1989 Ford Taurus SHO, another Ford
- 1990 Ford Taurus SHO, another Ford
